Terwase Akwaza

Terwase Akwaza (c. 1970s – 8 September 2020) also known as Gana (sometimes spelt Ghana) was a most wanted criminal and head of a militia in Benue State, Nigeria, whose activities peaked between 2015 and 2020. According to Murphy Ganagana and George Okoh, he was likened to the heroic outlaw, Robin Hood. A bounty of 50 million naira was placed on his head. Covert operations as well as air and ground offensives by the Nigeria Police and military to smoke out and arrest or kill him failed. He was murdered by the Nigerian Army after he turned himself in for amnesty on 8 September 2020.

Early life Terwase, literally meaning 'God help,' was born a native of Gbishe, Kpav District, Katsina-Ala local government area of Benue State. He lost his parents at a very young age. His father was a powerful witch-doctor (herbalist) who is said to have bequeathed him with magical powers.

He began his life of crime between the ages of 10 and 12 stealing poultry products from his neighborhood, which he concealed inside the popular Nigerian Ghana Must Go bag. This earned him the nickname 'Gana' with the people of the locality. He grew famous for being a thief and began waylaying traders returning home on market days.

Later, Gana joined a militia group that defended his community against the regular Fulani herdsmen and Jukun militia attacks. His courageous streaks were admired by his people and chiefs. Some believe that after his contributions to several victories, witch doctors from his village decided to fortify him with fetish powers that protected him against weapons and bullets and enabled him to disappear.

He was a polygamist with more than 30 wives. According to his 33rd wife, Queen, any woman Gana touched ended up with him as a wife. In Queen's case, Gana touched her buttocks and she followed him and became his wife.

Manhunt and amnesty First amnesty Gana lived in the jungle cohabiting with wild animals until Monday, 31 August 2015 when he first appeared in public to embrace the amnesty granted by Samuel Ortom, Governor of Benue State for criminals in the state. He led his gang of about 500 men to surrender to the amnesty program and submitted 84 rifles.

He was appointed chairman of the Joint Task Force on Revenue Collection in the state and attached with a team of security details made up of personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. His company, Ghatertex Nigeria Limited was also awarded a contract for the collection of Produce Tax for which he remitted 10 million naira monthly to the state government and retained the rest as running cost and settlement of his boys.

His freedom was, however, short-lived when he was accused of the murder of Denen Igbana, the Senior Special Assistant on Special Security to Gov. Ortom on 20 May 2016. He declined the invitation to the police for interrogation and returned to hiding. The state government withdrew the amnesty granted him and terminated his appointment as the chairman of the Joint Task Force on Revenue Collection and the contract awarded to his company, Ghatertex.

Manhunt The organized search for Ghana began after he refused to turn himself in for interrogation on allegations of complicity in the murder of Denen Igbana, Senior Special Assistant on Special Security to the governor of Benue state. The state government withdrew his amnesty and placed an initial bounty of 10 million naira on his head and later raised it to 50 million naira.

In a manhunt that lasted for four years, covert operations as well as air and ground raids by the Nigeria police and military in a bid to smoke out and arrest or kill him failed. Both of the military's special operations, known as "Operation Ayem A Kpatuma" and "Operation Whirlstroke", were unsuccessful at pinning him down.

Second amnesty Gana's return to his criminal activities was more disastrous than ever. Air and ground raids by the military, police and State Security Service neither tracked him down nor killed him.

As economic activities in the geopolitical axis were grounded, prominent indigenes, politicians, religious and traditional leaders requested and got acceptance for a second amnesty from the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on 4 September 2020, during a project commissioning and inspection of the area. The governor fixed 8 September 2020 as the day for the amnesty.

Gana denied having a hand in the murdered Senior Special Assistant on Special Security to Gov. Ortom, Denen Igbana. He accused the late Igbana of masterminding kidnappings in the state, citing two incidences: one in Gboko and another, the wife of a prominent Igbo businessman in Makurdi, popularly known as Officon. He alleged that the ransom of Officon’s wife was paid to the late Igbana, in which a dispute arose in the sharing formula between Denen and his boys. In both kidnappings, he contributed to efforts to apprehend the kidnappers who were later released by the police on the orders of Igbana.

In a letter to the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission dated 30 June 2016, Gana restated the allegations. He denied involvement in the murder of Denen Igbana and said he did not trust the police to be fair to him, which is why he went into hiding.

His murder victims include the District Head of Mbayongo, Chief Aloo Alev, and his counterpart in Michihe, Chief Chiahemba Livinus Shom, in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area as well as Chief Awua Alabar, District Head of Kundav in Ukum Local Government Area, who was gunned down in the presence of his family.

Gana was also responsible for the abduction and murder of the wife of Justice Tine Tur of the Court of Appeal, Esther Nguumbur Tur, and her companion, Mbalamen Kpensuen Aminde. The two were killed after the collection of ransom. The Hilux pickup in which they were abducted was also never found. The Appeal Court Justice did not survive the trauma of his wife's murder. He died shortly afterward.

On 20 March 2017, Gana and his gang raided Zaki Biam and killed about 17 people.

Philanthropy Gana built a clinic and science secondary school, named after him, in his village. He also gave out scholarships. Many beneficiaries of his scholarship are graduates.

He also gave out motorbikes, cars, grinding machines and business capital to some people in his community.